Three major things

There is a distinct, shared passion that is shared, and highly evident among mature prophets when it comes to prophetic ministry.

More than that, it is unequivocally the raison d’être of their ministry, and not only theirs, but the entire church. Prophets do well especially to model that passion with tenacity, tirelessness and courage.

Exactly what that passion is, can be demonstrated by Samuel (1 Samuel 3:2-3) At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was.

Samuel sleeps next to the very Ark of Covenant that in recent history had been touched by human hands with terrible results. We don’t know exactly where Samuel was sleeping, but the Bible does tell us it was where the Ark was. Samuel was close to the token Presence of God.

That is the passion that seems to be stirring in the hearts of many. To be close to God. It’s a passion that embraces the whole of the magnificent Body of Christ. Those who have gone on ahead of us already do so with joy and bliss that passes all of the superlatives of human communication. Being in God’s presence is full of unspeakable joy.

For all of the prophets I would encourage a resolute and magnificent passion for closeness to three things.

1. Stay close to God – Everything you do is about Him. You can’t even add a single hour to your life – such a simple thing to God, so let your entire focus be on Him and not about your profile, position or reputation. Some of the biggest names in the prophetic movement today will be easily overshadowed by some of the saints from the last century. It is never about us. Love God and seek to make Him more famous than ever! (Proverbs 8:17; Jeremiah 29:13; Amos 5:4)

2. Stay close to the Cross – everything about the prophetic ministry centres on the Cross. What Jesus did for us on the Cross is central to everything we do. Keep the Cross overshadowing everything you do. The gospel is the very power of God unto salvation. Keep pointing people back to the work of the Cross and what God achieved there for us – so that we do not have to. The wonder of wonders is that everything we could not achieve – God did for us, on our behalf. And nothing, but nothing has to be added. It is never, never, the work of Christ on the cross and something else. There is no x-factor – Christ is all we need. Urge people to follow after him with all their hearts, never because they have to or have a responsibility to, but because they want to. Grace upon grace!

3. Stay close to the Church – God is passionate about the Church, died for her and has set her as the hope for the nations. God’s great glory is in the Church. Learn to see the dazzling glory that God has set upon the Church – an alternative community from every nation under heaven, redeemed by the precious blood of Christ – and yes, full penal substitutionary atonement is her portion!!

These three are worthy of your greatest affections.
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raison d’être:
n 1: reason for being
2: the purpose that justifies a thing’s existence